General Information

Aim

The aim of Stafford Apex is to promote the teaching and practice of competitive swimming at all levels.  

History

Stafford Apex was formed on 3rd May 1978 and was initially named "The Riverside Recreation Centre Apex Swimming Club" and was administered directly by the centre manager. Membership was by personal invitation of the centre manager and membership was one pound per year !

By 1980, the club still only had 26 members. This required a recruiting campaign and by 1981 had increased to 27 members! By 1983 the club had increased its membership to 47 and by 1984 to 96.

In 1986 the club changed its name to Stafford Apex Swimming Club. The system of the centre manager inviting swimmers to join was changed and the committee took responsibility of recruiting swimmers by offering trials.

In 1987 the club purchased its first starting blocks! It also increased fees to five pounds. In that same year, the club joined the Speedo League and reached the Diddy League final.

In 1988 the club competed in the Staffs League for the first time and introduced early morning training. Riverside Recreation Centre purchased anti-turbulence ropes. By now, the building blocks were in place for the club to develop into what it is today.

Administration

Stafford Apex is support by Stafford Borough Council and is classed as a Leisure Centre based activity. Therefore, Stafford Borough Council provides the coaches, lane space and training times. For this reason, training fees are payable to the Borough Council via the reception at the Leisure Centre, not to the club.

The club is administered by a committee, which is elected at the Annual General Meeting each year.

Costs incurred by the club are met by annual membership fees and fund raising events.

In addition, the committee are always looking for volunteers to assist in the running of the club in a variety of ways. If you can help in any way whatsoever, do not be shy in coming forward.  Any help is greatly appreciated.  

Constitution and Rules

 The club is run according to a constitution, which has been approved by the ASA. The club also has a set of rules. If you require a copy of either document contact the club secretary or see the link below.

Apex Constitution v. July 2009

Child Protection

 Stafford Apex is committed to the safety and well being of all its swimmers. It has a Child Protection Policy that is in accordance with the ASA Child Protection Policy. Please ensure that your child knows who is transporting them to and from their training sessions. Somebody with responsibility for your child must be at the training venue during their session.

Medication

Coaches or other parents associated with the club will not administer medication to a child. This includes inhalers and headache tablets etc. Any medication must be administered or supervised by a person having parental responsibility for the child.

Notice Boards

 The main notice board is situated behind the spectator balcony at Stafford Leisure Centre. There is also a notice board on the Ground Floor by the Teaching Pool window. Please ensure that you check them regularly for all information relating to the club, including forthcoming swimming and social events.

Fundraising

 The club relies upon fund raising to generate income for the club and keep membership fees to a minimum. Social events are held regularly but do depend upon your support to make them a success.

Some social events are non profit making and held purely for the enjoyment of our members, such as

Alton Towers trip, Bowling & Quasar.

The club also has a 100 club and holds other ad hoc fund raising events. If you require any further information contact the club secretary or treasurer.   The committee is always looking for volunteers to organize or help at these events and also has a sub-committee to focus in this area. New members of this sub- committee are always welcome.

Gala Officials / Volunteers

 Volunteers are always needed to help to run galas, jobs like timekeeping, manning the door or making drinks. Some parents become interested in becoming ASA qualified officials. This includes timekeepers and judges, starters and referees. Staffordshire ASA run courses each year during autumn to prepare interested parties for the exams. The club secretary will distribute details and encourage volunteers. You are able to attend these courses even if you do not want to sit the exams. They are interesting and will enhance your knowledge of the sport.

COMPETITIVE SWIMMING

Amateur Swimming Association (ASA)

Stafford Apex Swimming Club is affiliated to the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA). It is also affiliated to Staffordshire ASA and Midland District ASA.  All competitions are held under ASA rules.

The ASA has rules about the minimum ages that children must be before they can compete in competitions against swimmers from other clubs. Generally this means that swimmers must be in their ninth year to compete in relay events and in their tenth year to compete in individual events.

The exceptions to this are district competitions where the age is 9 years for relays and 10 years for individual events; and national competitions where the age is 10 years in relay events and 11 years in individual events.

The Welsh ASA (WASA) has no such age limits and therefore we may sometimes take the younger children to Walesto compete and gain experience of swimming in galas.

It is essential that your child is registered Catergory 2 in order to compete in competitions...  forms available from the Apex membership secretary.

Types of Gala

 There are three types of gala your child will be involved in: -

1.  Time Trials

These are club events and will usually take place at the Leisure Centre. They are designed to prepare children for competitive swimming as they are run in exactly the same way as other types of swimming gala. They also give the coaches a good idea of progress made by the swimmers and give them an idea of times that the swimmers can achieve under competitive conditions.

2. Club Galas

These are competitions where we take part as a team in league events of several rounds, or as a friendly event for a trophy. We currently compete in the following league competitions

•           Nuneaton & District Junior (Diddy) League (9 - 12 years)

•           Staffordshire League (9yrs -- open)

•           National Arena League (11yrs - open)

Teams are selected by the Head Coach in consultation with the other coaching staff Team lists are displayed on the notice board well in advance and swimmers should indicate their availability as soon as possible. Swimmers are expected to swim for the club if selected.

Swimmers normally really enjoy these events and finals in particular can be very lively affairs.

3.  Open Galas

Open meets are galas that any ASA registered swimmer can enter by paying an entrance fee per event swum. The club has a swim secretary who, in consultation with the Head Coach, co-ordinates the meets the club will target and encourage swimmers to attend. Swimmers are notified and entry forms made available. The swim secretary collects in the completed entry forms and enters all swimmers from the club.

When entering such galas, it is necessary to submit the best time for each event that your child has achieved. These times are known as Personal Best times, and commonly referred to as PBs. It is therefore essential that you keep a record of your child's PBs. The club also keeps records and you may obtain a printed record from a designated member of the committee for a small fee (to cover costs).

The swim secretary, using one club cheque, forwards entry fees with the entry forms to the gala organiser. It is therefore essential that when you submit your entry form to the swim secretary that you enclose the correct entry fees using a cheque made payable to Stafford Apex Swimming Club. You should include your child's name and the name of the gala on the back of the cheque. Your cheque will be paid into the club bank account.

A club coach will normally attend all galas targeted by the club.

In entering open meets, swimmers will be able to attempt to achieve qualifying times for the important galas in the swimming calendar. These events are by age group (which means they compete against swimmers in the same age group as themselves) and are 'Age on Day'.

They are:-

• County Championships -- a swimmers first aim is to compete in these championships. They are normally held over two weekends at Wolverhampton Central Baths in March. As they are 'Age on Day' they have a 9 years age group.

• Midland District Age Group/Youth Championships -- this is a step up from the County Championships and is the next goal for swimmers age 10 years and over who have achieved county times. It is swum in a 50 metre pool.

• National Age Group/Youth Championships -- the ultimate target for a swimmer. Open to those swimmers aged 11 yrs and over. Very fast qualifying times so only the very top swimmers achieve them.

Costumes and Clothing

 When swimming in club team events, members are expected to wear club costumes and hats. Whilst on poolside they should wear club T-shirts.

When swimming in open events they should wear club hats and T-shirts.

When being presented with medals etc. swimmers should wear at least a club T-shirt or other top identifying them as an Apex swimmer.

Behaviour

 Swimmers should be well behaved at all times and reflect a positive image of the club. Swimming is a sport in the true sense of the word, therefore booing and/or ridiculing of other teams or individuals will not be tolerated.

Please remember that without volunteers and officials we cannot have any galas, so please help where you feel able